The Telugu film industry is currently facing a number of deep-rooted problems, from financial disputes to internal disagreements. Amidst these challenges, the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce is preparing for its scheduled elections. However, most members now appear to favour keeping the current leadership in place rather than voting in a new team.
In a recent meeting, 34 out of 38 present executive committee members expressed their support for the existing team to continue, while only four members raised objections. The Chamber has a total of 48 committee members, and the majority decision is likely to be implemented. This means the current committee, including President Bharat Bhushan, Vice President Ashok Kumar, General Secretary K.L. Damodar Prasad, and Treasurer Tummala Prasanna Kumar, is expected to continue for another term.
The reasoning behind this is clear: the Telugu film industry is currently dealing with several critical problems, and many believe it would be unwise to hand over leadership at such a sensitive time. The Chamber’s current building lease is also coming to an end soon, adding further complexity to the situation.
Among the major concerns are the rising payments demanded by star heroes, which producers feel are unsustainable. Though producers remain quiet in public, exhibitors have been vocal, holding press meets to express frustration over poor box office openings despite paying high fees to top stars.
There is also a growing gap between distributors and exhibitors, and long-standing complaints over digital service provider charges remain unresolved. Additionally, there’s rising tension between the film industry and government authorities, leading to a further lack of coordination.
Given these ongoing conflicts, the current committee reportedly believes it is better placed to understand and address these issues than a new group of leaders would be. Their focus now is to find practical solutions and restore balance between different sectors within the industry, rather than simply transferring the burden to others.
As the elections approach, all eyes are on how this experienced team will respond to the mounting challenges and whether their continued leadership can bring some much-needed stability to Telugu cinema.